Czech brewing covers pale lager (světlý), amber lager (polotmavý), dark lager (tmavý) and session-strength formats, plus smaller numbers of ales. Original gravities are often given in degrees Plato — desítka (10°, roughly 4 % ABV) and dvanáctka (12°, roughly 5 %). The hopIQ Score across all Czech beers evaluates each entry against its own style reference and weights medals from style-judged competitions.
Currently leading the ranking: Primátor Stout (Pivovar Primátor), Samson Dark Lager (Pivovar Samson) and Samson 10°. Pivovar Samson places 5 of the top 10.
How this ranking works
The hopIQ Score judges every beer against its style first: it rewards medals from competitions that judge within style categories and deducts points where a beer measurably deviates from its style reference. Community ratings add to that. Non-alcoholic excluded. No paid placement — order follows the data alone. Ranking spans 1120 beers from 91 breweries.
Top 5 of 25
ABV
4.7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Colour
dark 61
Primátor Stout is a top-fermented dark beer of the Irish type at 4.7 %, made from six grains: Pilsner, Munich and colour malts, a smoked malt, roasted barley and oats, with Northern Brewer as the only hop. It is near black with ruby glints…Primátor Stout is a top-fermented dark beer of the Irish type at 4.7 %, made from six grains: Pilsner, Munich and colour malts, a smoked malt, roasted barley and oats, with Northern Brewer as the only hop. It is near black with ruby glints and carries a dense, soft tan head. Delicate notes of nuts, chocolate and caramel play against the rough roast of the dark grains, which brings black coffee and bitter chocolate to the palate, and the oats leave a dry finish.
Samson Dark Lager#189 worldwide
ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
deep amber 20
This original dark lager greets the senses with light notes of caramel, chocolate and roasted coffee, a little treat to sweeten life. Known in Czech as Tmavý ležák or Tmavá 11, it is brewed in České Budějovice with water from a 274-metre…This original dark lager greets the senses with light notes of caramel, chocolate and roasted coffee, a little treat to sweeten life. Known in Czech as Tmavý ležák or Tmavá 11, it is brewed in České Budějovice with water from a 274-metre artesian well. It won Country Winner for the Czech Republic at the World Beer Awards in 2022, 2023 and 2025 and silver at the European Beer Star 2025.
Samson 10°#214 worldwide
ABV
4.1%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
pale gold 4
A delicate malt aroma, a pleasant bitterness and a refreshing bite mark this full-malt top ten, a pale draught beer with a harmonious, balanced taste. It is brewed in České Budějovice in two mashes to a traditional recipe, with Žatec hops,…A delicate malt aroma, a pleasant bitterness and a refreshing bite mark this full-malt top ten, a pale draught beer with a harmonious, balanced taste. It is brewed in České Budějovice in two mashes to a traditional recipe, with Žatec hops, Czech malt and water from a 274-metre artesian well. Brewer Radim Lavička says a good brewery is recognised by its ten. Bronze at the European Beer Star in 2021, 2022 and 2025.
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Samson Bock#279 worldwide
ABV
6.1%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
deep amber 15
A strong full-malt bock-type beer in a bright amber colour, with fruity notes and a delicate caramel flavour. Samson's brewers took inspiration from the art of the late 19th century and from a 124-year-old book published for the brewery's…A strong full-malt bock-type beer in a bright amber colour, with fruity notes and a delicate caramel flavour. Samson's brewers took inspiration from the art of the late 19th century and from a 124-year-old book published for the brewery's 100th anniversary. The beer won the World's Best Lager Bock title at the World Beer Awards 2022, followed by silver in 2023 and 2025.
5
Samson Hopped Lager#307 worldwide
ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Colour
pale gold 4
A premium full-malt lager with a really strong hop aroma and a perfect bite. The brewer describes a distinct hop aroma, yet a beer that is very drinkable and leaves a delicious impression. Known in Czech as Nachmelený ležák, it reached the…A premium full-malt lager with a really strong hop aroma and a perfect bite. The brewer describes a distinct hop aroma, yet a beer that is very drinkable and leaves a delicious impression. Known in Czech as Nachmelený ležák, it reached the market in 2021. It won silver at the World Beer Awards in 2022 and 2023 and bronze in 2025.
Ranks 6–10
6
Primátor Weizen#328 worldwide
Weizen is an unfiltered, top-fermented wheat beer of 4.8 %, brewed from Pilsner and wheat malts with the Czech hops Saaz and Sládek and a yeast of German origin. It joined the range in 2003 as the brewery's first ale and pours a hazy pale…Weizen is an unfiltered, top-fermented wheat beer of 4.8 %, brewed from Pilsner and wheat malts with the Czech hops Saaz and Sládek and a yeast of German origin. It joined the range in 2003 as the brewery's first ale and pours a hazy pale gold under a thick, dense head. Banana and clove lead aroma and palate, with a light hint of nectarine and a soft, bready grain character; carbonation is lively, the body medium, and the hops give it slightly more bitterness than is usual for the style.
7
Matuška Dvanáctka#444 worldwide
World Beer Cup 2026 Silver. A classic Czech 12° pale lager with Saaz hops, soft Bohemian malt and a long, dry, bitter finish. Everything a premium Czech lager should be. Ranked on fit to the Lager reference, award history in style-judged competitions and community ratings.
8
Matuška Desítka#448 worldwide
An honest ten-degree lager, mashed with a double decoction from Pilsner and Carapils malts and hopped with Žatec and Saaz Special hops, fermented bottom. It was first brewed for the 15th anniversary of the pub Kulový Blesk under the name…An honest ten-degree lager, mashed with a double decoction from Pilsner and Carapils malts and hopped with Žatec and Saaz Special hops, fermented bottom. It was first brewed for the 15th anniversary of the pub Kulový Blesk under the name Kulová desítka and is now a regular in the range.
9
Primátor Antonín#535 worldwide
Antonín is a 10° Czech draught lager of 4.0 %, brewed by the old triple-decoction method and lagered as long as a full-strength ležák. Pilsner malt plus Saaz and Sládek hops, added in three stages, are meant to give a light draught beer as…Antonín is a 10° Czech draught lager of 4.0 %, brewed by the old triple-decoction method and lagered as long as a full-strength ležák. Pilsner malt plus Saaz and Sládek hops, added in three stages, are meant to give a light draught beer as much malt body and hop bitterness as it can carry. It pours golden under a dense white head; bread crust and a light caramel sweetness meet herbal, gently spicy hop notes and a firm, lingering bitter finish.
10
Samson 12°#617 worldwide
A full-malt twelve with a distinct bitterness and full flavour, which high-quality Žatec hops give it; the brewery calls it a classic and recommends it to anyone who likes a really sharp beer. It is brewed in České Budějovice in two mashes…A full-malt twelve with a distinct bitterness and full flavour, which high-quality Žatec hops give it; the brewery calls it a classic and recommends it to anyone who likes a really sharp beer. It is brewed in České Budějovice in two mashes with water from a 274-metre artesian well. It won bronze at the World Beer Awards in 2023 and 2025.
The taste landscape
Of the 25 top beers, 12 lean malt-forward and 9 lean hop-forward.